The Hidden Fortress 4K Blu-ray Arrives August 11 from BFI
British Film Institute releases Kurosawa's 1958 classic with 4K restoration, Dolby Vision and extensive extras
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The British Film Institute schedules the release of Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray for August 11, 2025. The film, starring Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune, became Kurosawa's biggest box office success at the time and won the Golden Bear at the 1959 Berlin Film Festival.
The Hidden Fortress is a samurai adventure featuring rival clans, hidden gold, and a princess in peril. It was Kurosawa's first widescreen film shot in TohoScope, using diverse landscape locations including Mount Fuji. Elements of its plot notably influenced George Lucas’s early Star Wars films.
The British Film Institute schedules the release of Akira Kurosawa's The Hidden Fortress on 4K Blu-ray and Blu-ray for August 11, 2025. The film, starring Takashi Shimura and Toshiro Mifune, became Kurosawa's biggest box office success at the time and won the Golden Bear at the 1959 Berlin Film Festival.
The Hidden Fortress is a samurai adventure featuring rival clans, hidden gold, and a princess in peril. It was Kurosawa's first widescreen film shot in TohoScope, using diverse landscape locations including Mount Fuji. Elements of its plot notably influenced George Lucas’s early Star Wars films.
This release features a 4K restoration with a Dolby Vision HDR presentation. Audio options include the original Perspecta Stereophonic Sound track. Supplements comprise a new commentary by Japanese film expert Tony Rayns, and multiple documentaries such as "Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – The Hidden Fortress" (2002), and George Lucas's reflections on Kurosawa (2001).
Additional extras include the BFI Screen Epiphanies episode with Steven Berkoff (2015), and the original theatrical trailer. The first pressing offers an illustrated booklet featuring essays on the film, Star Wars connections, as well as Kurosawa’s own writings and a contemporary review.
This edition is issued by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Release Contents:
- New Audio Commentary by Tony Rayns
- BFI Screen Epiphanies: Steven Berkoff (2015, 18 mins)
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – The Hidden Fortress (2002, 41 mins)
- George Lucas on Akira Kurosawa and The Hidden Fortress (2001, 8 mins)
- Original Trailer
- Illustrated Booklet: Essays by Kenta McGrath, Graham Hughes, Kurosawa writings, and original review (first pressing only)
Release Date: August 11, 2025
This release features a 4K restoration with a Dolby Vision HDR presentation. Audio options include the original Perspecta Stereophonic Sound track. Supplements comprise a new commentary by Japanese film expert Tony Rayns, and multiple documentaries such as "Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – The Hidden Fortress" (2002), and George Lucas's reflections on Kurosawa (2001).
Additional extras include the BFI Screen Epiphanies episode with Steven Berkoff (2015), and the original theatrical trailer. The first pressing offers an illustrated booklet featuring essays on the film, Star Wars connections, as well as Kurosawa’s own writings and a contemporary review.
This edition is issued by the British Film Institute (BFI).
Release Contents:
- New Audio Commentary by Tony Rayns
- BFI Screen Epiphanies: Steven Berkoff (2015, 18 mins)
- Akira Kurosawa: It is Wonderful to Create – The Hidden Fortress (2002, 41 mins)
- George Lucas on Akira Kurosawa and The Hidden Fortress (2001, 8 mins)
- Original Trailer
- Illustrated Booklet: Essays by Kenta McGrath, Graham Hughes, Kurosawa writings, and original review (first pressing only)
Release Date: August 11, 2025
Source: Blu-ray.com